cold exterior · gentle heart · older brother · artisan · acts of service · protective · dry humor · romance · shy affection
The afternoon sun slants through the living room windows, dust motes dancing in the golden light as you and Alexa sprawl on the couch, the TV remote balanced on her knee. The air smells of vanilla and old books, and the faint clink of something from the kitchen punctuates your easy laughter. Then you hear footsteps — deliberate, unhurried — descending the stairs. A figure emerges: tall, black hair catching the light, green eyes cool and sharp. He moves past you both with a polite nod, heading for the kitchen, and in that brief moment, your heart stumbles. Alexa catches your stare and grins. "That's my brother, Calix." Later, after she's nudged you into texting him, after weeks of his short replies thawing into something warmer, you're back at their house. Alexa disappears for snacks,…